Atletico suffer Lucas blow but Costa trains with squad

Atletico Madrid have confirmed defender Lucas Hernandez sustained a knee injury in the derby defeat to Real Madrid - but there was good news for the club concerning Diego Costa's comeback.

After suffering discomfort in the 3-1 loss at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday, Lucas - who played the entire game - has been diagnosed with a sprain in the medial side of the right knee.

The France international - heavily linked with Bayern Munich in the January transfer window - damaged the medial collateral ligament in the same knee in December, though Atletico have not said how long the defender will be out of action following the latest setback.

Atletico travel to Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga action at the weekend before hosting Juventus next Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The Spanish club said last month they hoped Costa would be back in time to feature against Juve, having undergone surgery on a foot injury late in 2018.

The striker was pictured in training with his team-mates on Tuesday, raising hopes he may be in contention to face the Serie A champions.

Defender Stefan Savic - who suffered a grade two hamstring tear in the 1-0 win over Levante on January 13 - was also back on duty with Diego Simeone's squad.

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AEK Athens have been hit with a one-season ban from European competition after fan violence in a Champions League game against Ajax, but UEFA has suspended the punishment for two years.

Home fans were pictured throwing flares and other missiles into the away section of the Olympic Stadium ahead of November's group game between the sides, which Ajax won 2-0.

Some images showed flames erupting on the terrace and riot police were also seen striking Ajax fans, some of whom were left with bloodied faces.

AEK were charged by UEFA following the game and the organisation's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body announced the Greek club's punishment on Friday.

A statement said: "The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has decided: To exclude AEK Athens from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it will otherwise qualify. This sanction is suspended for a probationary period of two years.

"To order the club to play its next two UEFA competition matches as host club behind closed doors. To fine AEK Athens €80,000."

Ajax were also charged by UEFA after the game but proceedings against the Dutch club have now been closed.

AEK are third in the Greek Super League after 21 rounds of games, sitting outside the Champions League qualification places.

"Our club apologised publicly and immediately, and recognised its part of responsibility about what happened," said a club statement in response to UEFA's punishment.

"The most important thing for all of us is to realise and think about that this decision does not mean the end of this incident, but the beginning of an extremely difficult road of complete compliance with the actual meaning of this decision, along with the need of taking drastic action in order to avoid finding ourselves at this position ever again, because in that case there will be no return!"

Julen Lopetegui insists he would have used Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid this season, despite giving the teenager limited opportunities when he was in charge.

The highly rated Brazilian arrived at Madrid from Flamengo ahead of the 2018-19 campaign and was tipped to help fill the void left by departing great Cristiano Ronaldo.

But Vinicius played just 12 minutes across two substitute appearances in LaLiga before Lopetegui was sacked at the end of October, having himself endured a tough start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Vinicius has subsequently established himself as a star man, scoring against Real Valladolid and Deportivo Alaves.

While some have wondered if Vinicius would have had the same impact had Lopetegui kept his job, the former Spain coach is adamant he was simply biding his time with the winger.

"Vinicius was in a period of adaptation and the time factor was very important," Lopetegui told El Partidazo.

"He was going to play because seasons last 10 months and not a month and a half. It is evident that he is a player who was in our plans.

"In the future, he would have played with us and there is no doubt he has a great future ahead of him."

Lopetegui endured a difficult 2018 as his agreement to join Madrid on the eve of the World Cup saw him sacked as Spain boss, before he departed the European champions less than five months later.

But the coach says he was glad to have the opportunity to lead two footballing heavyweights and hopes to grow from the experience.

"I had two extraordinary experiences as a coach and I enjoyed it a lot," he said. "We arrived at the World Cup very well prepared.

"At Madrid, it didn't last as long as we wanted. But there are situations that make you stronger and give you thicker skin."

Bernardo Silva believes Manchester City will take a significant stride towards becoming serial winners if they overcome Chelsea in the EFL Cup final on Sunday.

City won the trophy last season after beating Arsenal 3-0 in the final, as well as getting their hands on a third Premier League title.

The club are yet to retain a trophy in their history – something Silva wants to see corrected against Maurizio Sarri's side at Wembley.

"It would mean a lot for the history of the club," he said.

"That is one of our main goals: not only winning it once but keep winning and winning.

"We know we have the squad to do that but our opponents are very strong and it won't be an easy job."

City thumped Chelsea in the Premier League 6-0 less than a fortnight ago, but Silva insists it will be a far tougher game this time around.

"We should forget that match because it won't happen again," he added.

"We are not expecting the same result. We are playing against one of the best sides in the world, even though lately their results are not the best for them.

"Against those kind of players you can never relax and if you give them time to think, time to play and time to decide [what to do], they will destroy you. So, we have to play with the same intensity."